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What are arm's length bodies?
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Last modified date:29 April 2008
The Department of Health works with three kinds of arm’s length bodies (ALBs):
- Executive agencies have responsibility for particular business areas - the agencies are still part of, and accountable to, the Department
- Special health authorities are independent bodies, but can be subject to ministerial direction like other NHS bodies
- Non-departmental public bodies have a role in the process of national government, but are not part of government departments.
Select a section
Executive agencies
Special health authorities
- Information Centre for health and social care (opens new window)
- Mental Health Act Commission (opens new window)
- National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (opens new window)
- National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) (opens new window)
- National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) (opens new window)
- NHS Appointments Commission (opens new window)
- NHS Blood and Transplant (opens new window)
- NHS Business Services Authority (opens new window)
- NHS Direct (opens new window)
- NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (opens new window)
- NHS Professionals (opens new window)
- NHS Litigation Authority (opens new window)
- Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) (opens new window)
Non-departmental public bodies
- Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) (opens new window)
- Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) (opens new window)
- Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) until 2008 (opens new window)
- General Social Care Council (opens new window)
- Healthcare Commission (until 2008) (opens new window)
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (until April 2008) (opens new window)
- Monitor - Independent Regulator of Foundation Trusts (opens new window)
- Human Tissue Authority (HTA) (opens new window)
- Health Protection Agency (opens new window)
Additional links
ALB review FAQ
Questions and answers about the policy, human resources and finances.
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